Shafali Verma, Cricketer
Cricketer

Shafali Verma

Born 28 January 2004 · Haryana

Youngest cricketer to complete 1,000 runs in T20 Internationals for India.

Shafali Verma is an Indian cricketer who plays for the Indian women's national cricket team. In 2019, at the age of 15, she became the youngest cricketer to play in a Women's Twenty20 International (T20I) match for India. In June 2021, she became the youngest player, male or female, to represent India in all three formats of international cricket. On 8 October 2022, she became the youngest cricketer to complete 1,000 runs in T20 Internationals.

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A detail that
surprised us

“

Shafali Verma had to cut her hair and pretend to be her brother to gain admission into a cricket academy in Rohtak because the academies initially rejected her for being a girl.

The Story

1
In 2019, a 15-year-old Shafali Verma disguised herself as a boy with a short haircut to sneak into the Shree Ram Narain Cricket Academy in Rohtak, Haryana, after local academies refused a girl entry.
2
🌟 At age 16, in November 2019, she smashed a 73-run innings in a T20I against West Indies, setting the record as the youngest Indian woman to hit an international half-century.
3In June 2021, Shafali became the youngest Indian, male or female, to represent the country across all three international cricket formats (Test, ODI, T20I).
4🎯 On 8 October 2022, she crossed 1,000 runs in T20 Internationals, becoming the youngest cricketer worldwide to reach this milestone.

🔍 One thing most people don't know

“

In 2019, to enroll in a cricket academy, Shafali disguised herself as a boy by cutting her hair short because no academy in Rohtak would admit her as a girl.

🖼️

Through the Years

3 photographs from the archives
Shafali Verma playing during her player-of-the-match innings against Bangladesh at the 2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup in Perth.
Shafali Verma playing during her player-of-the-match innings against Bangladesh at the 2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup in Perth.
2020
Shafali Verma batting in the 2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup match against Bangladesh at the WACA Ground in Perth.
Shafali Verma batting against Melbourne Renegades in a 2021 WBBL match at Lilac Hill Park, Perth.

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Born in Rohtak, Haryana
Shafali Verma was born to Sanjeev Verma and Parveen Bala in Rohtak, Haryana, into a cricket-loving family.
2004
🌟
Other
First visit to Chaudhary Bansi Lal Stadium
Shafali attended a Ranji Trophy match with her father, watching Sachin Tendulkar in his final domestic game.
2013
🌟
Other
Entered cricket academy disguised as boy
Denied entry for being a girl, Shafali cut her hair and enrolled in Rohtak's Shree Ram Narain Cricket Academy posing as her brother.
2013
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Career
Youngest Indian T20I debutant
At age 15, Shafali made her T20 International debut for India, becoming the youngest female cricketer to do so.
2019
⚡
Career
Youngest Indian in all formats
Shafali became the youngest Indian cricketer to represent the country across Test, ODI, and T20I formats.
2021
🌟
Other
1,000 T20I runs milestone
She crossed 1,000 runs in T20 Internationals, the youngest cricketer globally to achieve this feat.
2022
⚡
Career
Led India to Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup win
As captain, Shafali guided India to victory in the inaugural Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup held in India.
2023
🏅
Award
Player of the Match in Women's Cricket World Cup final
Shafali earned the Player of the Match award for her crucial batting performance in the 2025 Women's Cricket World Cup final.
2025
More moments to come...
+ Add a moment

🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 06
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

At just 15 years old, Shafali became the youngest cricketer to represent India in a Women's T20 International match in 2019.

Wikipedia
02 / 06
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

By June 2021, Shafali was the youngest Indian, male or female, to play in all three formats of international cricket.

Wikipedia
03 / 06
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

On 8 October 2022, she became the youngest cricketer to score 1,000 runs in T20 Internationals, an unprecedented milestone.

Wikipedia

No quote recorded for Shafali Verma yet.

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
S9E6 | Shafali Verma | Breakfast with Champions ft. Gaurav Kapur
More from this archive
S9E6 | Shafali Verma | Breakfast with Champions ft. Gaurav Kapur
01
S9E6 | Shafali Verma | Breakfast with Champions ft. Gaurav Kapur
Decoding A World Champion: Shafali Verma
02
Decoding A World Champion: Shafali Verma
Shafali Verma’s Journey to Glory | Exclusive Interview with Faye D’Souza
03
Shafali Verma’s Journey to Glory | Exclusive Interview with Faye D’Souza
From Rejection to World Cup Win: Shafali Verma Tells Her Story
04
From Rejection to World Cup Win: Shafali Verma Tells Her Story
Shafali Verma Interview | Shafali Verma On World Cup Glory: 'Captain's Faith Boosted My Game'
05
Shafali Verma Interview | Shafali Verma On World Cup Glory: 'Captain's Faith Boosted My Game'
Shafali Verma: The Star Behind India’s Epic Women’s World Cup Win
06
Shafali Verma: The Star Behind India’s Epic Women’s World Cup Win
"Really Enjoyed My Bowling': Shafali Verma | Women's World Cup | Shafali Verma Interview | EXCLUSIVE
07
"Really Enjoyed My Bowling': Shafali Verma | Women's World Cup | Shafali Verma Interview | EXCLUSIVE
Shafali Verma Live: First Interview After World Cup Win | ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup | #exclusive
08
Shafali Verma Live: First Interview After World Cup Win | ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup | #exclusive
Shafali Verma - From being dropped to clutch performance in final |Sports Today
09
Shafali Verma - From being dropped to clutch performance in final |Sports Today
Hyundai India | Shafali Verma Interview
10
Hyundai India | Shafali Verma Interview

🌱 What changed because of them

Shafali Verma’s breakthrough as a teenage cricketer challenged traditional gender norms in Indian sports academies, inspiring more girls to pursue cricket seriously. Her success accelerated the growth and visibility of women’s cricket in India, contributing to greater institutional support and the emergence of youth women's tournaments such as the ICC Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup. By captaining India’s Under-19 team and excelling in senior international cricket, she has become a beacon for aspiring female athletes across the country.

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